The Sindh High Court (SHC) on Thursday extended till November 26 its injunction, barring Pakistan Atomic Energy Commission (PAEC) from carrying out work on two nuclear power plants in Karachi.
Headed by Chief Justice Maqbool Baqar, a division bench had taken up a petition filed by Sharmeen Obaid Chinoy, Dr Pervaiz Amirali Hoodbhoy and others, who had approached the court challenging Sepa’s environmental impact assessment (EIA) report that accorded its approval to establishment of two nuclear power plants in Karachi. During initial hearing, the court had granted stay order against establishment of twin nuclear power plants without adhering to the environmental laws.
On Thursday, the court allowed two interveners, Amina Jilani and Roland De Souza to join the proceedings and directed the petitioners’ counsel to file amended petition with two interveners impleaded as petitioners.
Earlier the counsel for the petitioners had submitted that the twin nuclear reactors will be based on a design known as the ACP-1000. He said these types of reactors are not even operating in China as they only exist on the paper and in computer. This type of rectors will be used for the first time in Karachi.
He said that the safety precautions, which are required to be adopted by authorities, are still unclear and uncertain, posing serious threat to health and life of the people of the city.
Counsel submitted that PAEC had approached the SEPA for its approval on the project. Subsequently it issued environmental impact assessment (EIA) report on the project while approving it. He argued that EIA report was issued without complying with provisions of related environment laws as no public hearing was held regarding suitability of the site for the nuclear plants in Karachi.
